‘A life-changing experience’
South Fayette coach, players front and center for draft
The 2026 NFL Draft Experience was exactly that – an experience that altered the lives of all involved, young and old, the spectators and the participants.
“It was a life-changing experience,” said South Fayette head football coach Marty Spieler.
Spieler watched as two of his players were honored guests at the event and another was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
During the three-day event that attracted a record 805,000 fans to the North Shore and Point State Park, football players like Connor Hiser and Tyson Wright represented their respective schools. Clad in their school-colored jerseys, they were front and center when the Steelers made their draft selections.
Because he was a Jerome Bettis Leadership Award winner, Hiser was invited to attend the festivities on the first day of the draft. With six other winners, including Aliquippa’s Marques Council as well as Allderdice’s Lukas Stead and three female flag football players, Hiser helped Bettis and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announce Arizona lineman Max Iheanachor as the No. 1 draft pick for the Steelers.
“It was insane walking out on stage and seeing people as far as the eye could see,” Hiser said of the record crowd estimated at 320,000.
“It was awesome,” he continued. “I’m still so shocked that I don’t remember a lot because I was so excited.”
For Hiser, it has been a thrilling few months.
After being named a Jerome Bettis award winner for the leadership and volunteer roles he has played within the South Fayette community, Hiser attended a banquet where he met former Steeler quarterback Charlie Batch. He also was a guest of the Bettis organization at the Steelers versus Baltimore Ravens game back in December. Additionally, he accepted a scholarship to attend Duquesne University, where he will continue his playing career as an offensive lineman while pursuing studies in economics and political science.
“Those were great experiences too, but this one was surreal,” Hiser said of the NFL Draft.
“I’m standing next to Goodell while the Steelers are making the 21st pick and I’m thinking this guy is the commissioner. He’s larger than life. You see his face everywhere. And wow, oh, my gosh, that’s actually him.
“It was insane. Mind-blowing,” Hiser said. “It’s a moment I’ll never forget. I can’t stop smiling.”
Unforgettable was the NFL Draft experience for Wright as well as Upper St. Clair’s Colin Green. They were among the area athletes invited to attend Day 3 as the NFL and the Steelers celebrated Western Pennsylvania football.
A custom football was given to those high schools who had players drafted. For schools who have had players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a custom gold chrome helmet from Riddell helmets was presented.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show off my colors in front of hundreds of thousands of people,” Wright said of the Day 3 audience estimated at over 200,000. “It felt so amazing to look around and see all those people. It was like a dream being on that stage.”
Wright does not envision himself as a potential NFL prospect. A two-sport standout for the Lions, he is recovering from knee surgery after tearing his MCL and ACL during the basketball season. He is contemplating playing football at Washington & Jefferson College or attending Robert Morris University while pursuing studies in industrial engineering.
Green’s future is at Penn State but not to play for the Nittany Lions. He plans to major in finance and hopes to pursue a career in medical sales. He was honored to be chosen to represent USC at the NFL Draft because of former standouts like Sean Lee, John Bruno, Craig Dunaway, Jeff Delaney and Jack Maitland.
“I know those guys because they are on our wall and our coaches talk about them as examples for our program,” Green said. “So it was cool to come down to the draft and represent our school.
Green said it was also exciting to meet Goodell as well as sports analyst and color commentator Pat McAfee and all the Steelers draft picks, including quarterback Drew Allar from Penn State.
“It was unbelievable,” he said. “It was great to be part of this, especially since it was in our own city.”
Green, like many of the South Hills athletes and coaches in attendance at the draft, swelled with pride when one of their own was selected.
Eli Heidenreich from Mt. Lebanon was picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh and final round. Heidenreich was an all-state performer that helped the Blue Devils win a WPIAL and PIAA state championship before excelling at the Naval Academy. He was the 230th overall pick.
“It’s such a blessing for him,” Green said. “To see a kid from Lebo, who played on teams just like us, is an inspiration.”
Upper St. Clair head coach Mike Junko predicts Heidenreich will succeed in the NFL. Junko coached against Heidenreich when he played for the Blue Devils.
“Coaching against Eli was like sitting on a powder keg hoping it wouldn’t blow. He was so elusive, strong, and instinctual on the football field,” Junko said.
“Eli has spent a career defying the odds and doing the impossible. I wouldn’t bet against the kid at the next level. You have a feeling he is going to find a way to make himself an invaluable part of the team, just like he has always done.”